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Sending off Schnellenberger

This past Saturday in Boca Raton, ‘Canes fans gathered to send off a football legend into retirement. After more than five decades of coaching, Howard Schnellenberger graced a south Florida sideline for the last time. While any fan of college and/or pro football can appreciate the contribution Schnellenberger had on the game, for ‘Canes fans, Howard Schnellenberger is so much more than a coach. He is truly the architect of Miami’s football program, and without discounting the efforts and hard work of players and coaches that have come and gone in the past three decades since Howard was in Coral Gables, without Howard, none of us would be here bleeding orange and green for a program we know can one day return to the type of greatness he promised. For that, I feel forever indebted to Coach Schnellenberger. We all should. This weekend I spoke to some people who were less familiar with Schnellenberger’s lifetime of experience, thus, I thought this was the perfect occasion for a tribute.

Howard Schnellenberger was born on March 16, 1934 in St. Meinrad, Indiana. He graduated from Flaget High School in Louisville, Kentucky, where he played football, basketball and baseball before earning a scholarship to the University of Kentucky. At Kentucky, Schnellenberger was an All-American tight end, a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, and worked as an assistant coach under head coach Blanton Collier in 1959 and 1960. In 1961-65, Schnellenberger served as offensive coordinator under his college coach Bear Bryant at Alabama, recruited Joe Namath to the Crimson Tide, and helped Alabama to win three national championships in 1961, 1964 and 1965 before leaving in 1966 to take a job in the NFL as receivers coach of the Los Angeles Rams under George Allen. In 1970, Don Shula hired Schnellenberger as offensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins.

After the Dolphins’ perfect season in 1972, Schnellenberger left Miami to become the head coach of the Baltimore Colts. Although Schnellenberger’s Colts went 4-10 in his one full season, they managed to pull an upset on the defending Super Bowl Champion Dolphins towards the end of the 1973 season. After the Colts started the 1974 season 0-3, Schnellenberger was fired and replaced by Joe Thomas. He returned to the Dolphins coaching staff the following year and remained there until he was offered the head coaching job at the University of Miami.

In 1979, Schnellenberger arrived in Coral Gables to find a football program in shambles, from its fan base to its facilities. Yet, Howard promised recruits and the city that Miami would win a national championship within 4 years. While many must have wondered what Howard was smoking in his trademark pipe, his actions backed up his big talk. Drawing from the boot camp methodology learned from mentors Bryant and Shula and a pro-style pass-oriented playbook not yet the norm in Division I college football, Miami developed an aerial attack never seen before in college football. By his third season, the ‘Canes had finished the season in the AP Poll top 25 twice—something that had not happened since 1966.

Coaching and play calling was not the end of Howard’s talents. Indeed, he completely revolutionized college football recruiting and left a blueprint that not only Miami still follows, but that almost every other successful college football team has emulated. It was Schnellenberger who built the metaphorical “fence around Miami,” recruiting only the “State of South Florida.” His eye for talent in this area led to many programs around the nation paying greater attention to south Florida high school prospects. Under his “State of Miami” plan, Schnellenberger’s teams took the best from the three-county area around the city, went after the state’s best, then aimed at targets among the nation’s elite recruits. Sound familiar?

Schnellenberger led Miami to their first national championships in 1983, defeating Nebraska in the 50th Orange Bowl. Following the season, Schnellenberger departed for the USFL where he was to become the head coach of a Miami-based team—a relocated Washington Federals franchise. Not long after that announcement, however, the USFL announced that it would shift to a fall schedule. The owner-to-be for the Federals backed out of the deal, knowing he could not hope to compete head-to-head with the Miami Dolphins. A new backer moved the team to Orlando as the Renegades and decided not to retain Schnellenberger.

While we all could wonder what could have been had Howard stayed, he perservered, as did Miami football. Howard’s journey led him back to his hometown in 1985, to coach another struggling program, the University of Louisville Cardinals. The situation in Louisville at the time almost made the ‘Canes job look easy. The Cardinals had not had a winning season since 1978, and only two winning records in the previous 12 years. They played at Cardinal Stadium, a minor-league baseball stadium, and often hosted crowds so small that the school was forced to give tickets away. The situation was so grave at Louisville that officials were considering dropping the football program down to I-AA. Nonetheless, at his opening press conference, he stunned reporters and fans by proclaiming the program “is on a collision course with the national championship. The only variable is time.” After going 8–24–1 in his first three years, Schnellenberger was able to turn the program around and go 24–9–1 the next three seasons. In 10 years, he led the Cardinals to their fourth and fifth bowl games in school history. They won them both, including an unprecedented 34–7 thrashing of the Crimson Tide in the 1991 Fiesta Bowl, capping a 10–1–1 season and the school’s first-ever appearance in a final poll (11th). The Fiesta Bowl appearance was the school’s first-ever New Year’s Day bowl game. The Howard L. Schnellenberger Football Complex at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium is named after him; Schnellenberger initially proposed building the on-campus stadium during his tenure at Louisville and is credited with keeping the project alive.

Late in the 1994 season, Oklahoma head coach Gary Gibbs was forced to resign, but was allowed to finish out the season. Schnellenberger was hired to replace him on December 16, 1994. After a 3–0 start that had the Sooners ranked in the top 10, it quickly came unraveled after a 38–17 loss to Colorado on ESPN. That was the start of a stretch where the Sooners only went 2–5–1 the rest of the way, including a 2–5 record in conference play—Oklahoma’s first losing record in conference play in 31 years, and only the second since World War II. They were also defeated 12–0 by Oklahoma State—the Sooners’ first loss to their in-state rival in 20 years. En route, the Sooners were penalized nine times per game, which is very unusual since Schnellenberger has traditionally coached very disciplined teams. The Sooners closed out the season with their second-straight shutout, a 37-0 loss at No. 1 1995 Nebraska, which prevented Oklahoma from attaining a winning season or a bowl venue. On December 19, 1995, Schnellenberger resigned unexpectedly after one season, stating that “in recent months a climate has developed toward the program, understandably in some cases and perhaps unfairly in others, that has changed my outlook on the situation. A change could help improve that climate.”

In 1998, at age 64, Schnellenberger was named director of football operations for Florida Atlantic University, with the task of building a football program from scratch: coming up with a strategic plan, raising funds and selecting a coach. He was able to raise $13 million in pledges, lobbied the state legislature, and by the time then-FAU President, Anthony Catanese, asked him to find a coach in 1999, Schnellenberger selected himself. Schnellenberger described his interest in FAU by noting “This one is so different. The others, we were working with adopted kids. These were our kids.”

For the next two years, Schnellenberger led the fledgling team through fund-raising, recruiting and practice. For their first practice in 2000, the Owls had 160 walk-ons and 22 scholarship players. FAU football played their first game on September 1, 2001, losing to Slippery Rock 40–7 after the FAU administration failed to certify 13 Owls starters in time to play. The very next game the Owls upset the No. 22 team in I-AA, Bethune–Cookman, finishing their first season 4–6. They regressed to 2–9 the following season, but went 11–3 and made the I-AA semifinals in their third. During their fourth season, the Owls posted a 9–3 record while transitioning to Division I-A, but were ineligible for both a bowl game and the I-AA playoffs because of their transitioning status.

After playing four years at the Division I-AA level, FAU moved to the Sun Belt Conference and Division I-A level in 2005. This goal had been one of Schnellenberger’s primary objectives upon creation of the program. After two seasons in the Sun Belt, FAU football won the 2007 Conference title and secured its first ever bowl invitation, defeating Memphis 44–27 in the New Orleans Bowl. In just the seventh year of the football program’s history, and the third year playing in Division I-A, Florida Atlantic set an NCAA record by becoming the youngest program ever to receive an invitation to a bowl game. For his success in 2007, Coach Schnellenberger was awarded the Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year.

In 2008, Coach Schnellenberger led his 6-6 FAU Owls to a post-season bid at the Motor City Bowl against the Central Michigan Chippewas. This marked the first time a 6-6 Sun Belt Conference team that had not won the Conference Championship was invited to a post-season bowl. Although the Owls were underdogs, Coach Schnellenberger extended his post-season bowl record to 6-0, the most of any coach without a loss, with a 24-21 win.

During his FAU career, he regularly pushed for a new on-campus football stadium; that goal was realized with the 2010 groundbreaking for the new FAU Stadium. He led the Owls out for their first home game in the new facility on October 15. Schnellenberger coached his last game on Saturday, December 3, 2011, but he is not giving up his work for FAU. He plans to remain there as a university ambassador.

Schnelly, your ‘Canes family loves you and wishes you a happy and healthy retirement. Thank you for all that you have done for the University of Miami and the game of football.

Several years ago I worked closely with a gentleman that also played football for Kentucky and remained good friends with Schnelly.

I can’t repeat any of his stories here, but he had me rolling with some of his accounts. Sometimes, the tales would make you just shake your head in disbelief. The stuff I learned about Bear Bryant’s coaching techniques would blow your mind.

Anyway, great article. You are absolutely correct: without Schnelly’s groundbreaking efforts, Miami would probably not even be playing football today.

Miami (Fla.) South Miami four-star cornerback Amos Leggett parted ways with Miami last week after speaking with members of the coaching staff in Coral Gables. The decision was mutual and due to Al Golden and company believing they would have trouble getting Leggett admitted and cleared.

“I have decommitted from Miami. I won’t be playing at Miami,” Legget said. “I met with the Miami coaches last week and they basically told me that involving the paperwork to get in, and with them being a private school, that I wouldn’t be able to get in. It was basically that with them being a private school I would have trouble getting in.

“I want the coaches and the fans of Miami to know I appreciated all of their attention and interest in me,” Leggett added. “I wish them the very best.”

While Miami believes that Leggett is an academic risk, the Rivals250 prospect believes he has what it takes on his transcripts to play at the Division I level next season.

“I am qualified already,” Leggett said. “I have a good test score and GPA. There is always room for improvement, but I am already qualified. I scored a 22 on the ACT. I have a 2.2 core GPA. I haven’t gotten through the (NCAA) Clearinghouse yet, that is what I am working on now. I am at that stage now.”

With his name back on the market, he is looking at a handful of schools.

“I am looking at Marshall, Ohio State, Florida State, Vanderbilt, and Nebraska,” Leggett said. “Nebraska just came by today and set up a visit with me. I just left from Marshall this past weekend. I am supposed to be setting up a visit with Ohio State. I am supposed to be visiting Florida State in January.”

He talked about his time at Marshall this past weekend.

“I really got to hang out with the coaches and the players,” Leggett said. “They talked to me about how bad they want me. They showed me what it is like up there. I just felt real comfortable around the players. I feel I can go in there and make an early impact.”

That visit did a great deal of good for the Thundering Herd.

“Marshall was my first official visit and I really liked it up there, so they are kind of standing out right now,” Leggett said. “The visit helped them a lot.”

Next up for Leggett will be a trip to check out the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Canez1 – those pics are crazy .. esp. the pics of mother nature and the sh*t storm she can hit the human race with. People don’t realize just how powerful it is and get a reminder every once in a while

That dog pic in front of the casket is great. Same thing with when a St.Pete K9 police officer was killed this past year serving a warrant to the boxer Jeff Lacy’s piece of sh*t brother. At the funeral, when they were bringing out his casket, the K9 of the police officer was standing outside and started barking like crazy at the casket as it was getting near him and as it passed by him – that dog knew what was inside, that his buddy was in there

Crazy how animals are insanely loyal and knowing

The video is too long to watch, but, something else that gets me is when Michael A. Monsoor, SEAL Team 3, sacrificed himself to save other SEAL Team members by jumping on a grenade – at his funeral, all the SEALs walked in a uniform line to his casket and each of them took their SEAL trident, took the backing off of it to where the pin was just exposed, then slammed it into the casket top in perfect lines. Was crazy, the sound of each SEAL slamming his trident into the top of that casket with their fist sounded like a hammer

How about that one pic of the middle eastern lady in the street, raising her AK-47 in the air and letting a few rounds off? Haha. What the hell would you think if you went down the street here and saw that? Some lady just out in the street with others, firing off rounds in the air like it’s nothing unusual

I hate the majority of birds. They’re sketchy as f*ck with their movements. Only birds I’m down with are penguins b/c they’re funny as hell – I respect the raptor type birds b/c they’re badass, but still sketchy and move around like they took a heavy dose of coke/angeldust

Ug, that dog by the coffin picture gets to me – can’t look! My eyes are welled up with tears just thinking about it!

My sister’s dog Bailey died on Friday and she’s really upset. She got Bailey when I was in middle school. Such a good pup. Whenever I would come over she would immediately go to her toy box and bring over all her toys to show me because she knew I was down to play. I can’t believe she’s gone.

Lucky for me that Sebastian, who turns 4 on Saturday (only a few shopping days left!) is immortal.

bg – if something is wrong internally at UM that prevents even marginally qualified athletes from getting in, then it’s up to Golden to fix it. Pure and simple. No excuses. Fix it.

I’m not sure there is something wrong internally, but that’s debatable. Maybe there is.

High level executives are supposed to overcome internal resistance to achieve their goals. It’s part of the job, and you’re not an effective leader and executive without being able to implement your ideas within an internal bureaucracy.

Bottom line: Golden just got a big raise. If there’s a problem with us not getting good enough athletes to contend for an NC down the line, then it’s up to AG to fix the internal issues and have the powers-that-be make the necessary changes.

Six says:
December 5, 2011 at 1:33 PM
Kangaroo outnumbered 2 to 1, then 3 to 1 … my boy is noticeable height disadvantage, also huge reach disadvantage and becomes surrounded – but he doesn’t back down from his little branch

I hate the majority of birds. They’re sketchy as f*ck with their movements. Only birds I’m down with are penguins b/c they’re funny as hell – I respect the raptor type birds b/c they’re badass, but still sketchy and move around like they took a heavy dose of coke/angeldust
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rofl, who want some, he should’ve beat the hell out of them emu’s just for that fake out posturing crap. Who the hell is beating your neck on the ground suppose to scare. Reminds me of this guy(mofo looks just like shaggy from scooby doo) telling me this story about how him, his brother in law & 2 of their frat brothers were at some bar, and his brother in law was talking about some guy that was supposedly no good for some girl, and they were at the bar whining about it, so some guy at the bar made a comment to that affect, so the guy starts telling me, “when i saw the look in my brother in laws eye’s, he was about to kill that guy, he’s telling me, you’ve never seen somebody that upset before, so him and the 2 frats, they jump on his brother in law to apparently keep him from fighting the guy, than he tells me, they were having a hard time keeping his brother in law down, so him and the frats started punching and kicking their brother in law in the rib cage, in the meantime, the guy at the bar is just sitting their in the same spot.

When this guy was telling me this story, for one, i’m looking at him like WTF is the purpose of this stupid azz story, but #2, these cowards basically jumped they’re brother in law to so called keep him from killing some guy, in the mean time, the guy at the bar, nothin happened to him, i wanted to slap the crap out of that guy for telling me this story, but back at that spot, survelliance was tight work!

Anyway, all that jostling those emu birds did reminded me of that story!

CanesCanesCanes says:
December 5, 2011 at 1:54 PM
bg – if something is wrong internally at UM that prevents even marginally qualified athletes from getting in, then it’s up to Golden to fix it. Pure and simple. No excuses. Fix it.

I’m not sure there is something wrong internally, but that’s debatable. Maybe there is.

High level executives are supposed to overcome internal resistance to achieve their goals. It’s part of the job, and you’re not an effective leader and executive without being able to implement your ideas within an internal bureaucracy.

Bottom line: Golden just got a big raise. If there’s a problem with us not getting good enough athletes to contend for an NC down the line, then it’s up to AG to fix the internal issues and have the powers-that-be make the necessary changes.
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And whether he fixes it or not, all the headcoaches that came here since schenelly/83 who have been headcoaches before they got to UM have won a championship, NO EXCUSES!

I’m still incredulous that this is a Miami problem and not a Leggett problem.

Golden and co. can’t talk. Leggett can.

It’s fishy to me that we have other guys who skated in on the same scores but he “can’t.”

Especially with all the yapping he is doing about it.

Sounds like that one kid a couple of years back who was yapping about going to USF instead of UM and it turns out he never even had an offer from UM but it’s not like Randy could get on Joe Rose and say “that b!tch is crazy” so it ended up looking bad for us.

CanesCanesCanes says:
December 5, 2011 at 2:22 PM
Food for thought from PapaCane:

“@SaveUMFootball: Did You Know? LSU CB Tyrann Mathieu was a 3-Star recruit coming out of HS. Offers from Tulane, FIU, SMU, and LSU. No FSU offer so he sucks.”
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Look at cristobal on the case, he doing his thing over there at f.i.u. The one year he coached the o-line, them boyz started balling, than he jetted up outta here. If al wants to leave, it would be hard for cristobal not to jump ship, at the same time though, i got a feeling he wants to stay at f.i.u. without all the pressure and build that program up!

Fortson and Streeter have made final decision to go pro per Bruce Feldman. Man these 08 boys can’t get out of here soon enough (cause if either of them doesn’t see the advantage in staying that is not the type of player I want here)

Also surprised we had not heard anything on Miller as while he has a lot to gain by staying a year, given that shoulder he has just as much to lose…(since while not keeping him out, you can tell he still has issues with it).

BWash should do the same thing I think Vernon should do. Interview coaches. If he’s going to be at OT again next year then he needs to just dip. If they have him slotted to play RG then stay. I think the coaches know to put him at OG next year tho. Henderson and Bunche get to battle for LT job from spring on.

Canez1, yeah the transfer list will be interesting. will have those pushed out and those not discouraged from leaving. just hopefully won’t be guys with 3 years left of eligibility that can play and instead will be soon to be seniors who have never done anything.

Doesn’t matter whether he GOES to Vandy or not. IF he visits Vandy and they put that on THEIR dime then they obviously think they can get him in, END OF STORY. SOMETHING is VERY Wrong, NO MATTER WHO is at fault (UM, Clearinghouse, ETC). Kid is NOT salty in the least and IS I can ASSURE you very much wanted by the staff. The thing is they don’t want any more Grooms and Gadbois type scenarios where the kids AND STAFF believe the kid is in only for that to change in the 11th hour.

Also at the end of the day, WHO cares if he goes to Vandy or not. My deal is he’s not looking LIKELY here. HOPEFULLY he doesn’t end up somewhere like FSU with Tracy Howard where they can stick it to us real good!

Oh, so now that they see #69 and crew leaving for check city, they want to schedule us. Good timing, they know they would’ve gotten carved up something decent. They better not sleep on the crew taking over though, george mcdonald will have these boys right for sure, that’s the one position where it’s obvious guys are being coached right for sure.

We’ll see what happens at the other positions, last year was a feeling out year for almost everyone, this upcoming year is where we should more of a difference from this coaching staff from all phases. curtis porter definitely seems like he’ll do well for coach jethro franklin, if olivier vernon stays, it should only increase his draft status, that 6 game suspension messed him up the most. If we end up with vernon, porter, darius smith and chick on the d-line, that’s not a shabby d-line, throw forston and luther robinson in that mix and we should start to look even more decent.

Speaking of guys being asked to leave, i got money on cj holton staying around for his last year, jeremy lewis is a candidate, perry and keion payne, other than that, i don’t see to many other guys that will be asked to roll out unless you add ben jones to that mix and possibly jermaine johnson.

Are you saying are standards are too high? We create bureaucratic obstacles with too much paperwork? Is it something else?

I understand your frustration but I’m not convinced we have a problem. Maybe we do.

If there is a problem, specifically with getting the athletes we need to get, then as football CEO, AG has to internally sell, gain agreement, and implement a solution that allows him to get the athletes he needs.

The buck stops with AG. No excuses.

Now, I think many are saying that our standards are just fine. That we can get the athletes we need to eventually contend for championships. They just need better coaching and development.

In the absence of more specific information, I have to agree.

Over the last several years (especially last year) we’ve placed significant talent on NFL rosters.

Everybody that comes in wants to complain about the recruiting, hell when shannon took over, we had no wide receivers so he had to load up on those, we had no linebackers, he loaded up on those, than we had no o-linemen, he loaded up on those some, now if streeter doesn’t leave, the wide receiving crew doesnt’ actually look that bad, if he leaves, that’s another one of shannon’s recruits that got it done and was a late bloomer because he finally put in the real work it took to get himself there. Also, pimp collier being gone helped several receivers out, because he knew how to get on that field amd make plays.

So now we’ll have dorsett, sophmore, allen hurns will be a junior, rashawn scott, hopefull he starts to show some signs, and so we’ll have to rely on the running game a lil more and maybe even be a lil more conservative offensively come next year. Also, streeter maybe leaving for 2 main reasons, come next year, his numbers maybe down because he’ll get doubled up more with travis being gone, and allen hurns would’ve more than likely had a strong year. Although it was allen hurns who started drawing the double teams after that ohigho st. game.

We’ll be ok at the wideout spots with or without streeter, they just needed to redshirt aj2 instead of dismissing the man from the team.

Speaking of aj2, it was funny watching that boston college game where right before “Truth” miller broke that 79 yard run, the play where the man covering streeter got flagged for that pass interference call, aldarius johnson’s name came up on the screen, like he was in the game.

I watch YEAR after YEAR after YEAR of our kids get caught up and have to make different plans. I don’t know WHERE the problem lies but there is one and HAS been before Golden. So that leads me to say its a UM problem!

Yes I understand the sliding scale as it relates to lower GPA and student needing higher SAT/ACT score

What I was implying is a student whom has such a low GPA capable of scoring a 22 on ACT and with this score does this particular student get “red flaged” by clearing house based on the relationship of GPA to ACT

SailorCane
December 5, 2011 at 8:41 PM
A close friend of Kl and mine use to work at UM Admissions office and to quote him

“its a fu$kin mess over there”

Its the one area that has yet to receive significant attention from the top boss
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Sailor, you just confirmed it. I been questioning the admissions office rationale for some time. The Leggett case seems weird but then again I don’t have all the info. On a personal level, my son wanted to go to UM and we went thru all the Legacy program admission process since I am an alumni at the end he was not admitted which turned out to be a blessing in disguise since eventually he was offered a full scholarship at a academically higher rated U. His class valedictorian wanted to attend UM and was also denied admissions. That’s when I started to think something there is just not right. Your friend comments just confirms my suspicious.

Forgot to thank you for the Schnelly article. Us “old timers” think the world of Schnelly and the U and all Cane fans owe him a lot!
When he took over, it was a do or die situation for the program. Word was that if he was not successful the program was going to be cancelled. You gotta remember that at that time basketball had already being canceled and football was next. Athletics were not a priority for the administration.

So along came Schnellenberger and the rest is history. We owed to him what the U is today.

The problem with UM admissions, from my understanding having known a lot of people that work there, is turnover.

UM doesn’t pay well across the board.

If I told you what they have offered me for professor positions you would spit out your drink. I would have to live in a refrigerator box outside the Memorial Building on that salary.

Admissions starts people about the same and as much as people love their Alma Mater, they can’t afford to stay.

When you have a lot of turnover, like at any job, you are constantly training people and stuff (and sometimes people) fall through the cracks.

That being said, it is a different track. Athletes don’t go through the same process as other applicants.

And Philly, law school admissions are separate. This admissions department is in the Ashe building. Yours, as you know, is on the second floor of the law school. Completely different staff. And they pay better so they don’t have the same issues.

It’s UM, the front office is just now getting upgraded with personel who know what they are doing. I know they bringing back at least 1 or 2 people from the past who knew what the hell they were doing from back in the day, won’t be to many problems for long in that front office, believe that!

I think many private educational institutions pay less than publicly funded ones, across the board, whether high school or college. I was surprised when I found out what HS teachers make at expensive private schools vs the public schools. I was told they put up with lower pay at private schools because they felt it was a better environment for them.

None of these guys became Canes because of problems with academics/clearinghouse and some were just willing to go prep. Some still didn’t get in even after prep because they had problems with UM admissions. Others went to another school where they didn’t have admissions or clearinghouse problems. So again, my issue is if its CLEARINGHOUSE why is there a double standard by an NCAAA organization. Why is it they aren’t clear for Miami but clear for other places. If its a UM problem, HOW do we get it resolved and CAN we get it resolved? I seriously doubt they are willing to adjust their standards any further. What I’m saying is EITHER way its a PROBLEM and we’ll CONTINUE to lose quality kids because of it.

Here’s some craziness that I know peeps on here will appreciate, just b/c we like talking about kangaroos f*ckin things up and all that

It’s called “The Battle at Kruger”

I’ll give you a quick rundown of it b/c it’s around an 8 min video

Heard of big ass buffalo are walking the bank (:33 seconds). A small pride of lions are waiting down further on the bank, stalking (1:09). It’s next to the water. Big ass bull buffalo walks up on the pride of lions, turns and tries to get the small herd he’s with (including a baby) out of there. Lions attack and run down the baby while the other buffalo escape (2:01). Lions drag the baby down near the water. Out of nowhere a big ass crocodile comes up out of the water and tries to take one end of the baby buffalo away from the lions (3:40). The lions pull the baby back up to shore to chew on it some more. Lions look up and what do they see? (4:30 mark of the video) …… that big ass bull buffalo went and came back with the entire damn herd of big ass buffalo and they surround the lions who are chewing on the baby buffalo. Then, it’s payback time – the big ass herd of buffalo get up all in the lions asses, chasing them off and flinging one in the air

That list isn’t very compelling. Of the significant players on there, they either got into UM anyway, or we’re not significant college players (with the exception of maybe one). Grooms – time will tell.

Brandon Marti? That was a reach, bg, you’re better than that, that guy didn’t get in because he was a headcase.

I’m still not convinced we have trouble qualifying the players we need to qualify.

But let’s say we do, then AG has to fix it.

If we had this problem, don’t you think it would be number one or two on his priority list? It would be for me and I know it would be for any intelligent person eith advanced degrees, like yourself.

If it is a problem, and Goldie doesn’t fix it, then we just wasted a whole lotta money.

It was a lifelong dream of former Pahokee four-star wide receiver De’Joshua Johnson to suit up for the Seminoles. Those visions almost became a reality when he signed a letter of intent for FSU in the 2010 recruiting class. Unfortunately, his dream was all put on hold when he came up three points short of a qualifying ACT score.

“Honestly, I took it really hard. Florida State is where I’ve always wanted to be and it was a place where I knew my family could see me play,” explained Johnson. “It hurt a lot and I didn’t even pack my bags for at least two weeks because I couldn’t believe all this was happening. ”

After reality hit, the speedy receiver attacked the news like he would an opposing defense, with everything he had and is now starting to settle in comfortably at East Mississippi.

So when will Johnson to finish his business at East Mississippi Community College, and return home to the state of Florida to suit up for the Seminoles?

“Right now, I would say my target time would be at the end of the 2011 season,” said Johnson. “Not this December, but next December I should have everything taken care of and will be ready to play for FSU. From what I know, I should have three years of eligibility if I redshirt next season. This whole situation has been tough, but has been good for me to get prepared for what it will be like in college.

It doesn’t matter WHO the kid is. We obviously wanted them if we recruited them and THEY wanted to be here if the signed LOI. All I’m saying is we need to do a better job in either UM admissions or understanding the Clearinghouse better because it happens too much. Seems this staff is at least being more proactive about it because they told Leggett early. I just hate losing quality kids.

Tampa Hillsborough High School DT and Cane commitment Earl Moore is planning to take his Cane official visit this weekend.

Coach Garcia adds of Moore that “Earl has a great motor, wants to be good. He likes the whole process, the lifting, is a very coachable kids. He’ll be a great college player simply because he’ll do everything coach (Al) Golden asks him to do. He’ll be dependable as hell, will get his degree and won’t ever be a moment of trouble.”

UChamps – that buffalo herd was no joke right? haha. I started laughing too when one of them sent that lioness flying up in the air … then you see another one getting chased by a buffalo off on the other side of the bank

How about that damn crocodile rolling over there to try and drag that baby down into the water – it even surprised those lions, they were like “the f*ck did that come from?”

And then, you see a nation of buffalo jogging over to go get their baby back

Those are some big boys, they look big enough from that far a distance of where the people were filming it – you imagine them up close and personal like those lionesses had to deal with? It’s like a Suburban with horns and a bad attitude

“Nothing has changed with Miami, it’s the same as before,” Brown said. “I like them enough that they’re still in with my other interests. I’ve been talking with Coach Richardson but we don’t really talk about football. We’re just building a relationship and he asks about my family.”
Brown is still planning on taking an official visit to Coral Gables, which he said will most likely occur at some point in January.
“I don’t have a date set with them, it was this weekend actually but I have stuff to do so I have to reschedule,” Brown said. “That visit is not about what I’m going to get out of it. What I’m thinking is what are they going to try to show me? I think they want to show me the school and what can happen if I go there.”
Brown went on to explain that he really knows very little about Miami’s current situation other than the NCAA investigation.

He’s talented but yeah he comes across as a Flake. He’ll probably end up at Vandy where he’ll be the MAN and the rest of the team…NOT SO MUCH! HA! We’ll see. Talented player though. Just wish he was wrapped a little tighter.

He also has a teammate that is committed to UF named Jafar Mann that plays DT. Would LOVE for the COUP Papa was talking about to be Mann, Davis, and Kirby all to Miami to join Cornelius who is also Stephenson HS.

I gotta be honest here about Earl Moore, after seeing him play more than a few times this year, the kid just doesn’t really stand out for me – other than he’s one of, if not the, biggest kid out there in a lot of their games. They also line him up on offense in certain packages as a FB or extra OL.

He doesn’t exactly get into the backfield .. but they also run a 3-4 and he’s just basically diverting the RBs and QBs around him

I don’t even think he’s the best DT in the Tampa Bay area

There’s a kid over at Jesuit, Isaac Edwards, I’d take him over Earl Moore – then again, I don’t know what kind of plans Coach D’Onofrio has if they’re intent on staying with a 3-4 NT like Moore …. but I’d still take Edwards over Moore, he’s even rated higher on ESPN

Agholor gets more attention right now b/c Berk Prep used him at RB all the damn time and he wasn’t injured – they also lined him up in the slot and did quick slants to him. Those kids in his district had no shot of covering him. I haven’t seen him do anything on defense that Rayshawn hasn’t done either

If Farragut put Rayshawn back at RB as much as Berk Prep did with Agholor, then Rayshawn’s name would’ve been everywhere as much as Agholor’s

Rayshawn was out as well for 5 weeks with a rib fracture. When he got healthy, he went nuts

You should’ve seen the hit he put on a Glades Day defensive player that was trying to stop him from getting in the endzone on a run – his helmet popped off on the hit, then gets nose to nose with the GDay player after scoring without a helmet on and said some holiday greetings while everyone around him in the endzone was putting up the “U”

Rayshawn also had 3 TDs on the ground with 130 yards rushing .. and caught a TD pass as well in the game against Glades Day

The week before in regional finals, Rayshawn ran for 205 yards and 3 TDs

In 3 games, Rayshawn has almost 1,000 yards rushing with 9 TDs

Also remember that late in the season in the class semifinals when the main RB for Farragut was suspended for a game, the coach asked Rayshawn if he could play RB for them that night

Rayshawn stepped in to play RB for the first time this season – went nuts.

356 yards on 14 carries with TD runs of 50, 76 and 80 yards

They both play in small classes – Rayshawn & Farragut play in 2A .. Nelson & Berk Prep play in 3A

Rayshawn is playing in the state championship on Friday against a tough North Florida Christian school

Nelson got knocked out in the state semi-finals by American Heritage, was also injured in that game

These are my concerns as well and why I think Streeter needs another year…

Overall, wide receiver is a stopwatch position and if Streeter runs in the 4.4 range at 6-4, 215-pounds he’s likely going to go within the top-three rounds of the draft. However, when breaking down his game as an NFL receiver, in my opinion he’s not in the same class as former Miami wide out Leonard Hankerson who went in the third round last year. And my concerns about Streeter as an NFL receiver are that he’s not a real quick starter, will struggle vs. press, isn’t a natural route runner and has a tendency to put the ball on the ground.

Therefore, despite all his physical attributes he looks more like a reserve in the NFL to me, where I think he will be most effective as a big slot who can work the middle of the field and from time to time create the big play vertically.

However, I just have a tough time seeing him separate out of his breaks consistently as a route runner and securing the football vs. physical starting caliber corners on the outside in the NFL, which ultimately will limit his production/upside at the next level.

“Here’s something I WASN’T thinking while we were watching the thrilling game: this is women’s basketball.
OK, so there was no dunking. Other than that, what wasn’t to like?

Good passing? Check. Some thrilling reverse lay ups? Check. Three balls out the yin-yang? Check. Blocked shots? Check. Driving the lane? Check. Everything that defines a good basketball game made it’s way to the floor of the Bank United Center on Tuesday night.”

forston definitely has 1st to 2nd round talent & potential, the injuries have definitely frustrated em for sure, but of course all those guys want to play together in the nfl and go in at the same time. streeter has low 1st to high 2nd round talent as well, but not coming out this year, unless of course esteban’s boy billacheat uses one of those plethora of picks they normally stockpile up their in new england.

The funny thing is, the one with the most reason to come out is the last one to say anything.

Bennie, they were better in short yardage,imo. but not overall. But we really don’t know because Whipple didn’t allow us to.

I think Mike James is rusty from playing fb and blocking so much, add in the zone blocking scheme and it seems as if he sucks. But as the season went on he got better with his decision making a patience.

I think he’s a hell of a runner though. Him and Eduardo mixed with a little Darion Hall is trouble. All of those guys are talented.

Mike James seemed fine in the past as a RB. This year he’s running up the back of guys and tripping on everything. Probably was just pressing. Plus you add in that there was talk of a turf toe early in the year and I’ve never seen a guy have turf toe for just one week.

just will be a more collective effort most likely next year at RB. hopefully Duke Johnson can provide the home run element. I’m not counting on him to come in and be all world though. Unnecessary pressure.

Canez1 and Calvin – That Chinese kid was cracking me up all game. Everytime I’d turn around and look, homeboy was staring off into the sky or looking at the fans on the sideline

It’s not like he’s small either, dude could be out there on either the OL or DL but he’s like f*ckit, I’m going to sit on this bench and think about how to make the next IPhone 12 or whatever

He probably forgot who the hell his team was playin

You see the last run that Rayshawn made where he ran over #3 for Canterbury, then after he got up he went over and patted the kid on the head like “ya, good try, you still got my ballz draped across your face as I ran you over”

Canez1, i was thinking some of the same thing when i saw that guy sitting on the bench after rayshawn scored, i’m thinking, “who forced this mofo to be on the team” He sitting their like main man from full metal jacket where my guy asked em:
ds: son, how tall are you
weirdo soldier: 6feet whatever drill seargent
ds: I didn’t know shat could pile up that high

Six says:
December 6, 2011 at 6:47 PM
Canez1 and Calvin – That Chinese kid was cracking me up all game. Everytime I’d turn around and look, homeboy was staring off into the sky or looking at the fans on the sideline

It’s not like he’s small either, dude could be out there on either the OL or DL but he’s like f*ckit, I’m going to sit on this bench and think about how to make the next IPhone 12 or whatever

He probably forgot who the hell his team was playin

You see the last run that Rayshawn made where he ran over #3 for Canterbury, then after he got up he went over and patted the kid on the head like “ya, good try, you still got my ballz draped across your face as I ran you over”
////////////////////////////

lol, no doubt, we’ll see what type of development this staff can do, we been bringing in decent enuff talent to at least be way more competitive, incompetent assistants(nipple, hurtt, walton, fluzzi, mosely, aubrey, do noff, jethro and percy pringle on deck) will doom you every time!

Haha, I remember before the season started I was catching flack from all directions for calling it like it was on Mike James. I also remember saying we would get about 5 wins this year. Now we sit at 6-6 & James is a forgotten man behind Clements and some high school seniors. Ain’t that a bih!!

I REALLY don’t think Streetz lasts beyond the 3rd round if he runs a 4.40 40. I don’t care what his routes look like. DHB was taken in the first round and kid suuuuuuuuucked at Maryland.

And I really REALLY don’t think anyone will take such a chance on Forston before the 5th round. He has never put more than 3 good games together since he’s been here and has been hurt his entire career.

Streeter won’t last past the third round. Wouldn’t be surprised if several teams get their heads turned with what will probably by some stellar combine numbers. I could see him going in the second round.